By Jenny Pope
Buckner International

DALLAS – Buckner International is taking new steps to strengthen its medical services in community programs worldwide by recruiting doctors, nurses, dentists and volunteers to serve, said Buckner Manager of Health Services Cynthia Casperson.

Casperson, a registered nurse, is working to increase the number of medical mission trips offered by Buckner, find valuable medical equipment which can be donated to Buckner programs worldwide, and develop a health and wellness education program for Buckner’s NGO affiliates.

“For years, Buckner has been in the people industry,” Casperson said. “My role is to design and administer a program that strengthens our existing medical clinics and health programs while expanding our capacity to help more people.”

Part of that program includes inviting medical professionals to serve and teach around the world. Three medical mission trips are scheduled for 2012 in the following locations:

- Kenya, Jan. 18-28, 2012
- Ethiopia, May 9-18, 2012
- Honduras, Dec. 1 – 8, 2012

A limited number of openings are available for medical professionals, but Casperson said volunteers are especially needed to help register patients, assist doctors, clean wounds, teach hygiene classes and provide spiritual support.

“The only skills our volunteers need to help is a willing heart to serve,” she said.

Buckner currently operates medical clinics and health programs in Kenya, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guatemala and Honduras. Casperson said she dreams of helping Buckner strengthen those services and providing a flexible and expandable program that meets people’s needs throughout their lifetime.

To learn more about these medical mission trips in 2012, contact Cynthia Casperson at ccasperson@buckner.org. Or to sign up online, visit www.itsyourmission.com.